The community will be protesting his disappointing allyship with North Carolina’s governor and supporting the outrageous House Bill 2 (HB2) that targets transgender and gender nonconforming individuals from using public facilities.

Aquí Estamos, a youth-led LGBTQ organization in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, will be leading the protest. In allyship, Texas Freedom Network, South Texans for Reproductive Justice, Curando RGV, PFLAG Harlingen, the Human Rights Coalition of South Texas, and Call To Action RGV will be present during the demonstration.

Sofia Peña, organizer for South Texans for Reproductive Justice, said, “South Texans for Reproductive Justice understands LGBT rights, immigrant rights and reproductive rights are all inherently closely linked but especially in the wake of harmful legislation around the nation. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is notorious for undermining the rights of innocent, marginalized communities under the guise of protecting family values.”

Ruben Garza, leader of Texas Freedom Network in the Rio Grande Valley, added, “We will be protesting against Greg Abbott because has continuously worked to restrict and undermine the rights and liberties of Texans. He has become a vocal opponent of legislation and ordinances that protect the rights and liberties of the LGBTQ community, and transgender people. Greg Abbott is a roadblock in the path to justice, liberty, and progress. Texas deserves better leadership, and he must go!”

We will gather in front of R Communications, where Abbott will be hosting an event. The protest will be followed by a short program to highlight LGBTQ lives lost because of the hate Greg Abbott is spreading.

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Aquí Estamos is a youth-led, queer and trans people of color organization in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, a region along the U.S. Mexico border. You can find more about Aqui Estamos online at www.aquiestamosrgv.org.